294 
the florist. 
stylo y wliGn in hotter condition we expect they will stand more pro¬ 
minently. Some Hollyhocks from Mr. Shenton, and the Azalea Rosy 
Circle (whose continuous blooming is fully established}, from Messrs. 
Ivery & Son, added to the interest of the meeting. 
Sept. 17-—Mr. J. Downie, Edinburgh, in the chair. A full 
meeting, bringing forward, as we suppose, all the Seedling Dahlias 
likely to be sent out next spring. The society in this respect fully 
maintains its interest to those who seek knowledge of the new flowers 
of the season. As we have often asserted, few good things fail to find 
their way to its meetings. The censors—C. Sainsbury, Esq.; Messrs. 
J. Pope, J. Downie, J. Edwards, W. Dean, and T. Moore—made the 
following awards: First Class Certificate to a variegated Hydrangea; 
in this plant the colour is similar to that of Golden Chain Geranium, 
being very distinct from the usual variegation, which is silvery; 
exhibited by Mr. J. Salter. Certificates of Merit were granted to 
Dahlias Lillie Lund (Burgess), Oliver Twist (Fellowes), Standard 
Bearer (Alexander), Major Fellowes (Turner), Miss Watts (Turner), 
Miss Pressly (Turner), Jupiter (Rawlings), Mr. Critchet (Rawlings); 
these we shall describe at an early opportunity. Achimenes azurea 
oculata (G. Wheeler), was rewarded by a Certificate of Merit, lavender 
with spotted centre. Messrs. Dodds, Salter, Bragg, Green, Grant, 
Fellowes, Turner, and Rawlings each contributed flowers of merit, in 
all thirty-three varieties ; these will be hereafter ^ duly described, 
several of the most prominent of the varieties having received the 
Society’s awards on previous occasions, namely. King, Marion, Canary, 
and Commander. 
HINTS ON ORCHARD HOUSE CULTURE. 
“ My orchard house, which has never once failed me, has been a great 
source of pleasure this season. Peaches from pots 10| inches round 
show what can be done. I am as usual at the end of every season 
impressed with two or three facts; one is, that my tenacious unctuous 
loam is perfect for Peaches in pots. If sandy loam is used it must be 
rammed down (when not very dry) most unmercifully. Another is, 
that taking out the earth, and putting in fresh compost, is better done 
the last week or so in October. I lost my Apricots by not top dressing 
them till the blossom buds were swelling. The surface roots, the great 
feeders, being then disturbed did not commence to feed the germs early 
enough, so that finding no food they were disgusted and dropped off. 
What a simple fact! and yet from my having in former years dressed 
in January, I did not suffer to any extent, although I w^as several times 
puzzled to account for some trees dropping all their blossom after 
blooming freely. I began to cogitate about it seriously this spring, 
because one Peach tree standing in a warm part of the house dropped 
every blossom after blooming in great perfection ; this was a Walberton, 
which had always borne so freely. I had first imputed the Apricots 
dropping to the trees being placed in too warm a part of the house, but 
